PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Evan Knuckle (ranked 24350 p4p, 3707 weight class) and Joao Gabriel (ranked 522 p4p, 413 weight class). Gabriel has chosen Circo das Galinhas as his entrance music. Joao Gabriel has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Knuckle
vs
Gabriel

175 cm
24
173
2 - 4 - 0

185 cm
21
177
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Intelligent

BRAZEN - Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Evan Knuckle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joao Gabriel!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Igor Prikhodko and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Knuckle lands with a nice body kick.
Knuckle tries a head kick but it misses.
Knuckle looks to throw a body kick

and Gabriel decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Knuckle's guard.

Gabriel drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gabriel jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Gabriel is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Gabriel makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Gabriel thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Knuckle working a defensive guard here.
Gabriel stops Knuckle from standing up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gabriel cracks Knuckle with a solid left hand.
Gabriel lands a couple of elbows.
Knuckle knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gabriel on the ground.
Knuckle is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Knuckle working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gabriel.
Gabriel working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Knuckle's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knuckle working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gabriel.
Gabriel has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Gabriel working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Knuckle's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Knuckle manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Evan Knuckle seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Knuckle wants to clinch but Gabriel slips to the side

and Gabriel counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Gabriel.
Knuckle utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gabriel accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Gabriel in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gabriel accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Gabriel distracts Knuckle with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Gabriel landing with the ground and pound.
Knuckle is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Gabriel is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Gabriel pushes down on Knuckle's leg and manages to get into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Gabriel seems to be working for a kimura but Knuckle defends the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knuckle trying to hold on to Gabriel's head to control him but Gabriel postures up.

Gabriel is trying to work for a kimura but Knuckle is defending well.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Gabriel lands with a punch from half guard.
Knuckle wants to control but Gabriel is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Gabriel seems to be working for a kimura but Knuckle defends the submission attempt.

Gabriel is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Knuckle sees it coming and defends easily.
Gabriel not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Gabriel is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Gabriel is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Knuckle has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knuckle is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Gabriel lands strikes from half guard.
Knuckle trying to control from the bottom.

Gabriel is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Knuckle has managed to free his arm - good work.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Gabriel connects with a nice short shot to Knuckle's temple.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gabriel stops Knuckle from getting back to his feet.
Gabriel working the head and body with strikes.
Gabriel scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Gabriel not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Gabriel working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Knuckle is rocked!

Gabriel is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Knuckle defends it well.
Oh Knuckle is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Gabriel looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gabriel is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Knuckle doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gabriel.
Knuckle on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Gabriel lands a big elbow from half guard. That looks like it's hurt Knuckle quite badly. Knuckle pulls Gabriel in close trying to recover. Gabriel postures up and lands two really hard shots that put Knuckle on queer street! The ref takes a look and decides to call an end to the fight! Possibly an early stoppage but Knuckle doesn't seem to be complaining too much.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:31 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Joao Gabriel!
A pretty intense looking Joao Gabriel took the opportunity post-fight to ask for a shot at the title.
Evan Knuckle was interviewed post fight and said 'He was lucky'.